Guest

The JVC 30000u, 40000u and the latest 5u model ALL play D-Theater tapes. The main differences are that the 40000 and 5u support DTS output and the 5u has an HDMI output. The 5u has a better tape transport than the 30k & 40k (though the 40k is a decent enough machine) so if there isn't much price difference that is probably the model to go for.

Guest

Lord of the Rings (apart from private recordings) will never be on D-VHS. Warner never supported D-VHS but LOTR may well be an early title on HD-DVD in late 2005/early 2006. There are shortages on some D-VHS titles these days so I would strongly advise anyone to order a title if they want it and see it available.

Active Member

if you've got the money to waste, go ahead as DVHS looks great. mind, it'll be dead pretty soon, altho its hard to get people to admit it was ever alive. it'll make laserdisc and videodisc look like massive successes in comparison. a shame, but thats life i'm afraid. investing in a pc that'll work as a HTPC and also allow limitless future upgrades is a better investment, as DVHS is pretty much JVCs little experiment that won't even make it to these shores.

Guest

D-VHS will stick around as a recording medium for HDTV in the states until HD-DVD and Blu-Ray come down in price. Think about it - a $3 S-VHS tape is a pretty economical way to record 3 hours of HDTV compared to a current price $25 blank Blu-Ray disc.

As far as a pre-recorded medium is concerned you're correct. D-VHS is nearing the end. However, for the next 12 months it is the only viable legitimate way to watch any significant HDTV in the UK.

D-VHS has never been a big seller but it has meant that I have been able to watch HDTV at home in the UK for 3 years whilst nobody else (apart from other D-VHS deck owners) has and for that reason I am very grateful to it.